Testimonials MICHAEL HOPE   Assistant Principal Bassoon   Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra “Cesare Civetta is one of the most exciting conductors of his generation. His conducting is more than just beautiful technique. He has that electrifying quality called passion.” LORENZO A. MALFATTI   Founder, Opera Theatre of Lucca Festival   Professor Emeritus of Opera and Voice, U. of Cincinnati   Former Vocal Coach, Chicago Lyric Opera “As a young student of conducting, Cesare already displayed a great knowledge that simply baffled all of us. When he conducts opera, something wonderful and electrifying happens. His respect for the marriage of words and music is very refreshing, and the result of singers projecting the text and music without being covered by the orchestra is a joy to listen to. At the Opera Theatre of Lucca Festival in Italy, I chose Civetta to conduct Respighi’s unknown opera 'Lucrezia'. The orchestra really enjoyed his precision and music making, and it became the hit of the season. Italo Tajo, the legendary basso of the Metropolitan and La Scala stated many times that Civetta is a superb opera and symphonic conductor. During one of Tajo’s famous productions in Cincinnati, we were faced with a difficult decision--cancel, or find a new conductor. We chose Cesare Civetta to replace the conductor and that was one of the greatest decisions we ever made. Instantly, the orchestra came to life in the proper style and the opera was a great success.” ITALO TAJO “Born to conduct, this young conductor has a beautiful future ahead of him.” LOUIS LANE   Formally Resident Conductor, The Cleveland Orchestra   Principal Conductor, Dallas Symphony   Co-Conductor, Atlanta Symphony “Mr. Civetta is a dynamic podium personality, well-educated in music and conducting, and experienced in performing with orchestras and opera companies of China, Asiatic and European Russia, Eastern Europe, Scandinavia, South Africa, South America, and in the United States with frequent re-engagements. Good reports of his work and positive personality have reached me through colleagues and the performances of his that I have heard display leadership, artistic sensitivity, intelligence and discriminating ears.” MILTON KATIMS was associate principal viola of the NBC Symphony with Toscanini and music director of the Seattle Symphony “I urge that Mr. Civetta be given every possible opportunity.” ROBERT HUPKA   Co-author, ‘This Was Toscanini’ “I grew up in the Vienna Staatsoper and Musikverein during a Golden Age where I heard the Vienna Philharmonic conducted by Furtwängler, Bruno Walter, Richard Strauss, and above all Toscanini. I have known Cesare Civetta since 1975, and from the beginning he impressed me with his exceptional talent and brilliant mind. He is an extraordinary conductor who evokes performances that vibrate with life and inspiration. His work is of the greatest value to the world of music today.” print page Return to Top